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Remember tempos when about to count off.FRUSRATING
- Thread starter Blankso
- Start date
Bo Eder
Platinum Member
Sometimes it doesn't hurt to have your Dr. Beat with you on a music stand so you can call up the exact tempo you need and get it. I've had to do that before with certain music directors, so it's not a practice that is frowned upon. I've even had a small drum machine programmed with certain beats at certain tempos, and all I had to do was call up that particular "song" and hit go to see how fast it was going and get the tempo from that.
Also, If you have access to a watch with a second hand, you will always be able to find what 120 BPM is just by sub-dividing the second hand ticking. And then you could guess faster or slower depending on where you need to be too. I've done that in a pinch and no one was the wiser!
It is frustrating, but you do have access to tools to help you through it. No one can ever remember exactly what a certain tempo is supposed to be. And if they did, I guarantee you that everything will be a little faster depending on the adrenaline pumping!
Also, If you have access to a watch with a second hand, you will always be able to find what 120 BPM is just by sub-dividing the second hand ticking. And then you could guess faster or slower depending on where you need to be too. I've done that in a pinch and no one was the wiser!
It is frustrating, but you do have access to tools to help you through it. No one can ever remember exactly what a certain tempo is supposed to be. And if they did, I guarantee you that everything will be a little faster depending on the adrenaline pumping!
brentcn
Platinum Member
The Yamaha Clickstation has a feature where you hold down a pad, and it "vibrates" the displayed tempo to your thumb. It's noiseless and perfect for getting the tempo in your head on stage.
The more you use a metronome for stuff like this, the better you will become at counting off songs. It's a skill like any other, and it should be practiced with the right tools.
The more you use a metronome for stuff like this, the better you will become at counting off songs. It's a skill like any other, and it should be practiced with the right tools.
Bo Eder
Platinum Member
Those people are idiots and you're doing what you can do with the right tools to make the music happen. I always look at it like this: whoever is paying you is the boss, so you do whatever it takes to make that person happy, and in turn, the people will be happy (idiots and all).
H
Hellwyck
Guest
I personally don't deal in BPM. I just play and get the tempo near enough in rehearsals then change on the fly.
Sorry, didn't read the title properly, thought you meant in the actual song.
Sorry, didn't read the title properly, thought you meant in the actual song.
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Larry
"Uncle Larry"
This is what I do too. It works great, as long as you sing the song at the right speed, not hard to do. Helps you to feel the song properly too. After you've done the song enough times live, you shouldn't need to sing it beforehand anymore.
shadowlorde
Senior Member
it is a pain .. especially when you practice a song with your band for awhile and fall into a habit of playing at different tempos.. then listen back to the original song and say WTF am I doing.
songs I do that with.. fear of the dark, cemetary gates, can I play with madness
songs I do that with.. fear of the dark, cemetary gates, can I play with madness
Mr. Fanzy Pants
Member
Shedboyxx
Silver Member
++++1 - what Bo said.
The opinion about there being a problem using a metronome is:
1) ignorant
2) shows inexperience
3) Goes against what many (but not all) pros REALLY use live. Think about all of these R & B acts that have to sync with tracks. Are those drummers weak?
4) Will cause problems if there is any off the cuff remark about a song being too fast or too slow.
Even though a band needs to play together, somebody has to make the decision about what's the best tempo for a song. Then everybody has to go along with that. Then somebody(ies) has/have to be the gate keeper. Otherwise it depends on how different people are feeling that day, what their strengths or weaknesses are at different tempos, if they had a fight with their significant other, etc.
Not saying you can't have someone who gets most of the tempos right but I rarely have come across people that can remember the exact tempo of a song. It's always a little different. Sometimes that's important and sometimes it's not.
I have a church gig where I have a metronome (The Yamaha Clickstation) mounted off of my hi hat. I'm in charge of counting off most tempos but if I don't, I go with whoever started the song and try to keep it there. Occasionally I'm asked to 'bring us back' to the right tempo. Then they are relying on my inner clock. I work on my inner clock everytime I sit down to play, practicing with a metronome, practicing playing time without it but concentrating on keeping it straight, etc.. Also as mentioned before I'll sing parts of the song to myself. The trick there is singing it at the right tempos in your head!
Another gig I play, I back an actor who's a singer/guitarist. He starts or counts off every song and that's what's right for that song, that night. At that point, it's my job to keep it there. No metronome in sight but my metronomic practice helps to keep us all honest. Not perfect - but as honest as humans can make it.
Bring a metronome. Be VERY able to play the different parts of your bands material at the agreed upon tempos before you get to the practice session or gig. Then use the metronome to either start off the song or keep the headphones/ear buds in place for the duration of the song.
IMHO, this is being responsible about supporting the music. I've heard the sentiment about using a metronome too much and it becoming crutch and to a point I can see it. My experience tells me that most people just don't want to address their own time issues and accuse drummers that play to a click as 'making it sound like a robot'. That can be an issue but most of the times it's not. Ask any prominent session player.
Jim
Pollyanna
Platinum Member
I like the Larry Brady method too.
I've forgotten where the thread is but a while ago someone posted a list of BPMs of the more common tempos going up by 5 each time. Next to each BPM was the title of a classic song which would give you an instant reference.
Blank, if anyone remembers and can find that thread, it might help.
I've forgotten where the thread is but a while ago someone posted a list of BPMs of the more common tempos going up by 5 each time. Next to each BPM was the title of a classic song which would give you an instant reference.
Blank, if anyone remembers and can find that thread, it might help.
Late Bloomer
Senior Member
I recently downloaded the "Tempo 2 " app for my Iphone. You can programme whole set lists together. Turn the volume down and it just flashes the tempo. It costs around $2.50. I am very impressed with it.
M
mediocrefunkybeat
Guest
Korg make a decent cheap metronome. Totally forgotten the model number, but it's blue and around $20ish in the states I'd imagine.
Hi Blankso
I have several..One is called Quick Time..about $20.Easy to use...and has blinking light. I mix the sound for the band and keep the mixer to my left(off the HI-HAT. I place the metronome on the mixer.
I find I don't need it for every song. Rarely refer to it during the song. It helps us in a live situation to be anchored in the heat of it all!!!
Denis
I have several..One is called Quick Time..about $20.Easy to use...and has blinking light. I mix the sound for the band and keep the mixer to my left(off the HI-HAT. I place the metronome on the mixer.
I find I don't need it for every song. Rarely refer to it during the song. It helps us in a live situation to be anchored in the heat of it all!!!
Denis
Rather than sing the chorus in your head, which is affected by your inner clock and you're basically right back where you started... try to 'hear' it playing instead, as if listening to a recording. Don't tap your feet or hands, don't mouth it... just hear it. Obviously it helps if you're familiar enough with the song to hear it in your head, but once you get the concept, you'll nail the tempo within a few bpm, and probably also the correct key!
If you don't happen to know the song well enough, try remembering a different song you do know, that's the same tempo. Some of the songs I know well enough to 'hear' are:
BPM - song
74 - Hotel California
80 - We Will Rock You
105 - We Can Work It Out
120 - Dim All the Lights
125 - Ticket To Ride / Last Dance
139 - Feel Good Inc
145-148 - Molly’s Chambers
150 - All the Small Things
(some bpms are averaged)
I also know tempos of some of Al's songs that I've had drilled into me on stage night after night:
119 - Fat
129 - Close But No Cigar
180 - Party Leper Colony
It's very easy for me to 'hear' those and nail the tempo within 1 or 2 bpm.
Also do a search for the list Pollyana mentioned, I recall there were somne good ones on there.
Bermuda